He entered the room pumping his fist, and fans cheered. Someone called out, “I’m your biggest fan.” Admirers sought pre-performance autographs and photographs. When his performance — or presentation — neared its end after 90 minutes, fans called out, “No! No!,” and he gave them 30 minutes more. A rock star? Yes — of the gardening world. This was Ciscoe Morris.
Milene Henley has announced her intent to seek re-election as San Juan County auditor. Auditor is a countywide position with responsibilities for financial reporting, election administration, vehicle and vessel licensing, and recording land and other documents within the county. The auditor serves a four-year term. The position is non-partisan.
Colton Harris-Moore, the teen burglary suspect who has earned the nickname “The Barefoot Burglar,” is growing as a pop culture figure. His suspected crimes have made national news, and he’s been the subject of stories in Outdoors magazine and, now, Maxim magazine. And he’s even the subject of a song, “The Ballad of Barefoot Harris,” on YouTube.
Islanders and mainlanders will crowd the ferry to Sidney, B.C., on Sunday for the kick-off to the Washington State Ferries spring schedule and the annual Sidney run. The ferry — the 124-car Chelan — will leave Anacortes at 8:30 a.m. and arrive in Friday Harbor at 9:30 a.m. The ferry will arrive in Sidney at 11:05 a.m. and depart for Friday Harbor at noon. The ferry will arrive in Friday Harbor at 1:35 p.m. and Anacortes at 3 p.m.
Friday Harbor junior Megan Cuomo shot 43 and placed third at the March 22 jamboree at the Golf Club at Redmond Ridge. The event was a four-way match with Overlake, Bear Creek, Life Christian and Friday Harbor. Overlake won the event by 10 shots over host team Bear Creek. Reid Fredrickson, last year State contender, was medalist with a 3-over par 39.
Cub Scouts from Den 3, Pack 90 in Friday Harbor visited The Journal of the San Juan Islands on March 23. Scouts talked to Graphic Artist Rebecca Cook read some ad copy, talked to Reporter Scott Rasmussen about news gathering, and met Editor Richard Walker and Reporter Jane K. Fox.
C. James (Jim) Coughlin died on March 16, 2010, after a long illness. He was 71. Jim was born in Veblen, S.D., to Birinus (Jankord) and Edward Coughlin on Dec. 6, 1938. He lived most of his life in the Pacific Northwest, graduating from Seattle Prep and Seattle University, and obtaining his master of social work from the University of Washington in 1965.
Bonnie Peakes, secretary of the San Juan Historical Society and Museum and a former Friday Harbor Middle School teacher, died March 20 after a five-month battle with pancreatic cancer. According to the historical society, no funeral is planned. Her survivors include her son, John Peakes; daughter and son-in-law, Barbara and Scott Leeming; and grandson, William Leeming.
State Sen. Kevin Ranker’s priority bills were approved by the Legislature and sent to the governor’s desk for signature. “We spent dozens of hours both prior and during the legislative session to build consensus around these bills,” Ranker said. “These bills passed with significant bipartisan support in both chambers due to the efforts of numerous individuals including dozens of citizens from our communities.”
Gov. Chris Gregoire on Monday signed into law a bill sponsored by Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-San Juan Island, to help continue the legacy of Washington’s farmers for generations to come. “The average age of a farmer in Washington is 57 years old,” Ranker said. “If we’re serious about promoting agriculture in Washington, we’re going to have to encourage younger people to get onto the farms and get their hands dirty.”
Henning Sehmsdorf appears to have won another term on the San Juan Islands Conservation District Board of Supervisors. According to unofficial results, Sehmsdorf received 262 votes, Ed Kilduff 229.
Schools that profoundly affect student learning are being awarded for their efforts. A total of 174 schools are receiving Washington Achievement Awards for 2009 — among them, Friday Harbor High School, Lopez Middle and High School, Orcas Middle School and Orcas High School.
For a moment, it was Times Square 1945 all over again. Veterans from each of the military branches and their significant others took to the American Legion stage Saturday to see who could best replicate that famous kiss captured by a Life magazine photographer when the end of World War II was announced. The winners: Army veteran Howard Schonberger and his bride, Helen Sawyer.
